The Arrival of the Never Forgotten

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor am I making money from this fanfiction. I also do not own My Immortal, a song by Evanescence, on which this fanfic is based on.

Author: Her-mee-o-ninny (but you can call me Danni)

A/N: Well, one more day of school left for me before the summer and I had yet another idea for a fanfic. This will be my first one based on a song, one of my favorites actually, and I hope you all enjoy it.




I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave I wish you would just leave
Because your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone


I wake up to a darkened room. Rays of light beg to pour through the thick curtains to announce the morning's arrival. Knowing I won't be able to capture another moment's sleep, I reluctantly roll of out bed and walk over to the large window across the room. Throwing open the scarlet curtains, the sunshine happily greets my welcoming, illuminating the room. I gaze across the grounds, watching as the lake glistens beautifully under the sun and the trees sway peacefully in the wind. I am lost by the tranquility of my once threatened home. Forcing myself to leave this state of mind, I turn from the window and walk over the mirror opposite me.

A woman looks back at me, with a solemn expression. Although she has only seen twenty-five years of her life, her mind has aged so much further. She has seen so many horrors many could never even begin to imagine. Fortunately these horrors, which haunt her past, she is able to lock most of away. She has always revisited them in her dreams, which turn to nightmares, however no one knows of her utter depression.

I continue to stare back at the woman, taking in her full appearance. Her unmanageable caramel hair cascades down her back, several strands in front, framing her face. Her natural features have been worn by turmoil, but are easily masked. A once childish figure has matured to an average woman's. Her once radiant chocolate eyes have faded, leaving a dull brown behind, hinting at her locked up emotions. I turn away from the mirror for a moment and look back. Despite every change I have found, I still see the bookworm I had once been labeled as. The reflection of Hermione Granger stares back at me, unlocking every part of my soul I have kept sealed for close to seven years.

I still have so many memories of the years of the war our world had faced. I had lost an enormous part of me when the people I loved were gone. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ginny, Neville, Tonks, Lupin, Hagrid, even Professor Snape. Those who had not died fighting were lost in the memories of those who had died, as I myself am. Yes, Professor Dumbleldore and McGonnagol are still here running Hogwarts, but neither are the same as they once had been. Ron, one of my dearest friends, works alongside me and treats me as a mere acquaintance. Harry...Well, once Harry had defeated Voldemort during our seventh year, he disappeared. We had all believed that with the threat of Voldemort gone, we could live in happiness. Instead, we were quite wrong. Even without their leader, the Death Eaters continued fighting. It was inevitable that they would eventually meet their defeat, however, this all added numerous years of continuous rebellions, weakening the spirits and hopes for a better life immensely. When Harry had abandoned us all, this further weakened our hopes, leaving many of his loved ones, still alive and fighting, in a state of depression, shock, or simply emptiness.

When I had received the letter from Harry, informing me of his leave, my world had come crashing down. This had happened to many, however I doubt anyone had been more affected by it than me. Throughout our sixth and seventh years of Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, and I had become, if possible, even more inseparable, but in particular, Harry and I's friendship was unbreakable. During the war, my greatest fear was losing him to the hands of Voldemort. When he had finally fulfilled the prophecy, a wave of relief had swept over me. A normal life was in sight at last. A week letter, however, this all came to an abrupt end. I had received an owl from Harry:

Hermione,

I regret to inform you that I will not be returning. I had fulfilled my destiny, leaving nothing unfinished. Please do not pain over my leave.

I will never forget you
With love,
Harry


After this, I had fallen into a state of depression I most likely have never left. His memory haunts me wherever I go. My dreams more often than not are enveloped by the presence of him. Despite the fact that he is probably thousands of miles away from me, the thought of him clings to my soul, never letting go.

I collapse to the floor, tears beginning to form. So many years of depression, so many years of the desire to see Harry again pour from my eyes as I drown in my misery. I long to have him here with me, I long to hear his voice again, but at the same time, I desperately wish to erase him from my memory, my heart, my soul. Darkness begins to surround me as I enter a tear-filled sleep on the cold stone floor of my room.


These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase


As I awaken for a second time, the light pains my still tear-filled eyes. I close them quickly, trying to erase the pain, before slowly opening them again. The room comes into focus and I realize that I am still lying across the cold floor, but now, a warm blanket is wrapped tightly around my body. I slowly get up and walk to my desk, before picking up my watch. My eyes grow wide as I realize I have missed my first class of the day. A burst of adrenaline runs through me as I quickly gather my robes and run to the bathroom.

Once I have made myself at least presentable, I gather my lesson plans and wand and run to the door before I realize the knob turning. I stop and a moment later Dumbledore appears in my doorway. I let out a sigh of relief, not realizing that I had been holding my breath in the first place.

Dumbledore gives me a quick smile before saying, "Ah, Miss Granger. I know I should have come to check on you earlier, however you have seemed accustomed to sleep deprivation quite lately. I had a feeling you may have slept in this morning when you hadn't shown for breakfast, so I sent Dobby to check on you."

Just then, I had realized that Dobby was standing next to Dumbledore, giving me a small wave. "Missus was sleeping, she was, Dobby tells Professor Dumbledore. Dobby covered Missus with a blanket to stop Missus from catching a cold. Missus needs lots of sleep, Dobby says. Missus always looks so tired, she does," Dobby piped in.

I smiled outwardly, but frown inwardly. Has it been that obvious? I know I haven't gotten a full night's sleep since, well, I can't remember when, but I always take a Pepper-up Potion from Madame Pomfrey to mask this exhaustion. I sigh and push these thoughts to the back of my mind, returning to reality.

"There's nothing to worry about, Miss Granger. I had taken the liberty of teaching your first class, however I do hope that you will take the reigns soon. An old wizard has a difficult enough time keeping the students attention, aside from actually teaching them," the headmaster said, the hint of a long forgotten twinkle in his eye.

I smile and say, "Oh, I do hope they were fine. Those first years never seem to want to pay attention. I'm very sorry if they caused you any trouble."

Dumbledore chuckled and replied, "Oh no, no...just a minor headache, is all. Now, when shall I inform the students that their transfiguration professor will be ready?"

"I'm ready now. I was just on my way out."

"Well, please at least join us for lunch, Miss Granger," the old wizard requested.

I inwardly groan. Now is not the time to see the whole school. My hair is still in disarray, my robes wrinkled from being wrapped in a ball on my floor, and I still have dark rings under my eyes. Seeing my students in class I can deal with, but sitting at the Head Table in the Great Hall is just too much.

I begin to decline when Dobby quickly runs over to me and hands my hand, pulling me out the door. His frame so short that holding my hand causes me to lean over while walking with the house elf.

"Come, come," he squeaks. "Missus needs her food, she does. Missus has not been eating well, Dobby sees."

Dumbledore chuckles at this sight and the three of us amble slowly toward the Great Hall.


I sit at the head table, silently eating my lunch. I had noticed the whispers radiating from the students as a walked across the Great Hall, still being pulled forward (and downward) by Dobby. Now, I am simply attempting to hide. I know by now rumors will have spread about the transfiguration teacher missing her first class of teaching in six years.

I see Dumbledore stand from the corner of my eye and I stop eating to look up. Why was he making an announcement? I can't remember the last time he's done so during lunch. Actually, no, I can, but that was during the worst years of the war. What could possibly be going on?

The old wizard clears his throat to get the remaining attention from the students and begins, "Normally, I need not make any important announcements during lunch, however, I do have quite a significant announcement." A new buzz of chatter echoes throughout the hall, but Dumbledore still continues, "As many of you have sounded a concern about the lack of a dueling club, I was forced to find a suitable professor for you all, before I felt the wrath of my own students." He chuckled, a twinkle in his eye as he glanced to a group of Gryffindors that had always reminded me of my own friends at Hogwarts. Painful memories sting me as a push these thoughts away.

"I am pleased to inform you that your new professor—"

The doors of the Great Hall slowly began to open. The mass of students turned their heads in unison, attempting to get a good view of the newcomer. I do not join them in their struggle, instead I just return to my meal. An unusual silence envelops the magnificent room. "Ah, yes," Dumbledore says. "Welcome back, Harry Potter."

I drop my fork, in complete shock. What should have been a loud clanking from the fork was drown by an explosion of excitement. I look up quickly to see a man, with the familiar unruly raven-colored mat of hair, round glasses framing his once radiant emerald eyes, and lopsided grin that had always made me melt to the spot. Happiness of seeing my never forgotten friend at last is soon destroyed by a wave of depression. As I watch him, he acts as if nothing has happened since he has left. He has a worn look about him, but his broad smile he exhibits, while greeting his old companions masks the long years we have all endured. Hatred and anger courses through me as memories unlock, memories that I have kept hidden for so long. Just the sight of him makes me feel weak, not love-sick weak, but vulnerable and fragile. Tears threaten my eyes as I look away. I bury my face in my hands, but no one notices, or at least I don't think they do.

A moment later I feel coarse hands pull my hands gently from my face. He pulls me up from my chair slowly never taking his eyes away from me. Troubled green eyes pour into mine as he says, "Hello, Hermione." Tears pool from my eyes as my legs grow weak. I sink to the floor, sobbing, with Harry trying to keep me standing. He seems to give up, sitting next to me. I feel him arms pull me into a hug. I tense and push him away. The look of pain and confusion on his face shatters any control I have. I continue to sob as I quickly stand up and run from the Great Hall, hoping he won't follow. When I'm far enough away, I find myself leaning against an ice- cold stone wall, before sinking to the ground once more. My sobs echo through the halls, threatening to reveal my location. I have no control to stop this, so instead I simply sit and drown in misery. Although I want nothing more to be alone, I know I feel a hint of hope that I will be saved.

A/N: This first chapter took forever to write. I really hope you like it. I'm trying to escape my usual way of writing and I'd love to hear what you all think. PLEASE review! Good or bad, it doesn't matter. I just love hearing what my readers are thinking. The next part should be coming quite soon. I know exactly where I'm going with this now so the next part should be much quicker to write. PLEASE PLEASE review!! hehe